Olathe woman clinging to life, three young adults killed in Ozarks boating crash

Olathe woman clinging to life, three young adults killed in Ozarks boating crash

Driver of boat expected to be charged with BWI

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Updated: 11:58 AM CDT May 21, 2018

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WEBVTT WE’LL HAVE THE EXTENDED FORECAST, COMING UP. MATT: THREE YOUNG LIVES TAKEN TOO SOON, AND AN OLATHE WOMAN CLINGING TO LIFE AFTER A BOAT CRASH AT THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS. NOW, THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL IS WARNING LAKE-GOERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRINKING ON THE WATER. KMBC 9’S LISA D’SOUZA EXPLAINS. >> FAMILIES GRIEVING, AFTER A DEADLY BOAT CRASH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES FROM JOHNSON COUNTY, AN OLATHE WOMAN, CRITICALLY HURT. >> PEOPLE GOING TO THE LAKE, THE LAKE IS A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE. A FAMILY FRIEND OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS SAYS IT DOESN’T FEEL REAL. THE BOAT, OFFICIALS SAY, CRASHED INTO A ROCK BLUFF AROUND MIDNIGHT, THE DRIVER, 22-YEAR-OLD HAYDEN FRAZIER OF OVERLAND PARK, NOW BEING CHARGED WITH 3 COUNTS OF BOATING WHILE INTOXICATED. >> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF BOATERS THAT HAVE ALCOHOL. CORPORAL DAVID CAMPBELL, OF THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL, SAYS, SADLY, THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ON THE WATER TAKING RISKS. >> IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A PROBLEM UNTIL PEOPLE BECOME IMPAIRED AND TRY TO DRIVE THE BOAT. >> DRUNK OR INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS IN THE DARK. >> IT’S REALLY HARD TO PERCEIVE THE DEPTH AT NIGHTTIME, MOST THINGS AREN’T LIT UP AT ALL. >> NOW LOVED ONES TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL. >> THEY JUST HAD SO MUCH LIFE AHEAD OF THEM. >> THIS IS THE SIXTH DEADLY BOAT CRASH THIS YEAR. ON THE HEELS OF MEMORIAL DAY, THEY STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGNATING A OBER BOAT OPERATOR. LISA D’SOUZA, KMBC 9 NEWS. MATT ALL OF THE VICTIMS WERE GRADUATES FROM OLATHE EAST. MISSOURI LAW, SAYS ANYONE BO -- MISSOURI

Olathe woman clinging to life, three young adults killed in Ozarks boating crash

A group of friends having a good time at the Lake of the Ozarks ended in tragedy over the weekend - three young lives were taken too soon.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 23-year-old Joseph LeMark, of Overland Park; 24-year-old Daniel Lewis, of Overland Park; and 21-year-old Hailey Hochanadel, of Olathe were all killed in a boating crash near Camden, Mo. early Saturday.

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Authorities believe the driver of that boat, 22-year-old Overland Park resident Hayden Frazier, was intoxicated when the boat he was driving struck a rock bluff not far from Simmons Point on the Lake of the Ozarks.

Another woman, 21-year-old Ashley Lamb of Olathe was last listed in serious condition after being air-lifted to a Springfield, Mo. hospital following that crash.

All five of the individuals on the boat were reportedly friends from high school - they attended Olathe East together.

Accident reports say Frazier, Hochanadel and LeMark were ejected into the water in the crash that happened before 2 a.m. Saturday. State Patrol Sgt. Scott White said Frazier climbed back aboard and paddled the 1991 Regal Runabout across the channel to a dock at Simmons Point.

A neighbor called to report the incident.

Frazier was arrested for allegedly boating while intoxicated after the incident, then released from jail Sunday morning.